Abstract: Methods for proxy-driven content rate selection for streaming media servers are provided. In one method, one or more maximum transmission rate parameters from a network controller are stored at a proxy server in response to a receiver report message from the client. A target rate for the media session is generated based on the stored maximum transmission rate parameters, and the target rate is transmitted to a media server in a proxy-to-server feedback message. The media server selects the content rate from among a plurality of supported content rates in response to the proxy-to-server feedback message from the proxy server, and streams streaming multimedia frames to the client at the selected content rate.

Abstract: In a method for dynamically setting a content rate of a multimedia session for a client in a network, a proxy server receives a channel condition feedback message from a network controller and determines whether a receiver report message has been received from the client since a most recent previous channel condition feedback message. The channel condition feedback message includes current channel condition information for the network. The proxy server sends one of an extended feedback report message and a short feedback report message to a media server based on the determining step. The short feedback report message includes at least a maximum transmission rate parameter for the multimedia session. The extended feedback report message includes at least information contained in the receiver report message. The extended feedback report message may, in addition, include the maximum transmission rate parameter for the multimedia session.

Abstract: A new protocol layer is provided as part of a protocol stack associated with a packet-based multiaccess mobile communications system. The protocol layer is preferably located above a medium access control (MAC) protocol layer and a physical protocol layer of the system and below a transport/network protocol layer. Such a subnetwork protocol layer provides, inter alia, the communications system with various mobility management functions, for example, tracking mobile user stations throughout the system, mobile station access to the system, and connection/call continuity within the system. The subnetwork protocol layer of the invention also performs packet routing functions associated with the system. Routing can be accomplished in many ways, for example, via source routing, connectionless routing, or tunneling. Further, the new protocol layer of the invention is preferably located above a data link layer with respect to the protocol stack associated with communications between network nodes.

Abstract: In the method of estimating a signal-to-interference+noise ratio (SINR), either the polarities or bit values of a plurality of received data symbol samples are estimated. Then an SINR estimate is generated based on the plurality of received data symbol samples and the estimated polarities or bit values of the plurality of received data symbol samples such that the SINR estimate is not substantially dependent on the polarities or a bit value of the plurality of received data symbol samples.

Abstract: In a UMTS (universal mobile telecommunications system) based system, a wireless receiver implements “effective signal-to-noise (Eb/No) based BER estimation.” In particular, the wireless receiver comprises a rake receiver, a processor and memory. The rake receiver processes a received signal and provides signal-to-noise ratio values for each slot of each received frame of the received signal. The processor converts these signal-to-noise ratio values for each received frame into an effective signal-to-noise ratio value for the received signal. The processor then uses the effective signal-to-noise ratio value as a pointer, or index, into a look-up table (stored in the memory) and retrieves a BER estimate therefrom.

Abstract: Hybrid fiber/coax networks employ the existing cable plant used for cable TV and transmit data signals in a frequency bandwidth above that which is used for cable TV. As this cable plant was deployed in a tree and branch topology, data transmissions may be susceptible to noise, variable transmission loss and frequency dispersion, particularly in the upstream direction. Further, due to the tree and branch topology, homes at the far end of the network experience much greater loss than do the homes that are near to the headend/ONU. The present system, which uses point-to-point data links between intelligent network elements located in the feeder/distribution network to provide reliable, secure, bi-directional broadband access. Digital signals are terminated at the intelligent network elements, switched and regenerated for transmission across additional upstream or downstream data links as needed to connect a home to a headend or router.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method involving a media server, a wireless network, and at least one media client associated with at least one air interface with the wireless network. The method includes accessing first information indicative of at least one state of the at least one media client. The first information is provided by the at least one media client. The method also includes accessing second information indicative of resources associated with the at least one air interface. The second information is provided by the wireless network. The method further includes providing at least one feedback parameter to the media server. The at least one feedback parameter is formed based on the first and second information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method involving a media server, a wireless access network, at least one media client, and a proxy server. The method includes accessing, at the proxy server, at least one message including information indicating impending establishment of a media session between the media server and said at least one media client. The method also includes providing, from the proxy server, information indicating the impending establishment of the media session and a request to receive feedback associated with the media session. The method further includes receiving, at the proxy server, feedback associated with the media session in response to providing the request to receive feedback associated with the media session.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for content rate selection. The method includes selecting a content rate for play out of at least one frame transmitted from a media server to a media client via a wireless access network. Selection of the content rate is performed based on a statistical representation of a bandwidth available for transmission of frames.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for obtaining and reporting performance information on node-to-node data transfers, i.e., network hops, based on integrated capabilities in Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6), specifically extension headers. The performance of a (real-time) data flow is monitored between a source-destination pair by inserting specific information in an extension header of select data packets in the data flow. By initiating an extension header at a source client, and updating the extension header at any intermediate nodes along the source-destination path, a destination node can produce a detailed set of statistics relating to the current performance level of select nodes in a network based upon the reported data in the extension header. Additionally, data flow performance can be monitored on any desired network path or segment independent of particular flows on those paths.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for routing a data flow from a source node to a destination node in a mobile ad-hoc network (MANET). The present invention performs this function by first determining a quantitative value for each link at an individual node in the MANET, where the value represents the current quality level of each of the links. Next, the present invention broadcasts an advertisement for each of the links in the MANET by each of the nodes, the advertisement including the value determined above. After broadcasting the advertisement, routing tables are composed at each of the nodes based upon the advertisements. Each routing table includes the value determined above. After composing the routing tables, a route based upon the routing table (and the link values contained therein) is selecting by the source node to direct the data flow to the destination node.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for routing a data flow from a source node to a destination node in a mobile ad-hoc network (MANET). The present invention performs this function by first determining a quantitative value for each link at a corresponding origination node, where the value represents the current performance level of the links. Next, the present invention broadcasts an advertisement for each of the links in the MANET by the corresponding origination nodes, the advertisement including the value determined above. After broadcasting the advertisements, routing tables are composed at each of the nodes based upon the advertisements. Each routing table is constructed taking into account the advertised links and their corresponding values. After composing the routing tables, packets are forwarded toward their respective destinations in accordance with the next hops indicated by the routing table.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for routing a data flow from a source node to a destination node in a mobile ad-hoc network (MANET). The present invention performs this function by first determining desired service requirements for an individual data flow to be forwarded to a destination node. Next, the present invention broadcasts an advertisement for each of the links in the MANET by the corresponding origination nodes, the advertisement including a value indicating the current performance level of the link. After broadcasting the advertisements, routing tables are composed at each of the nodes based upon the advertisements. Each routing table is constructed taking into account the advertised links and their corresponding values. After composing the routing tables, packets are forwarded toward their respective destinations by utilizing the routing tables in such a manner that the desired service requirements are satisfied.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for traffic engineering and fast protection of individual data flows using capabilities supported by IPv6. By utilizing IPv6 extension headers and flow labels a specific network route based upon quality of service (QoS) requirements of a data flow can be selected by a source node. Once a route meeting the QoS requirements of the data flow is selected, a source node can insert the route in an initial packet header and force the flow along the corresponding network path. The source and intermediate nodes cache the route and the flow label selected for a data flow. For subsequent packets, the flow label is used by intermediate nodes to determine the next hop along the route.

Abstract: A novel topology sensing methodology is provided for point-to-point link setup among a set of network nodes, which are mobile. The technique provided is TDMA contention-based, where each network node sends pilot signals to announce its existence. Pilot signals transmitted by network nodes are used by surrounding nodes to extract various pieces of information such as node identity, node location and potential link quality. Information collected from pilot signals of neighboring nodes is used in conjunction with other topological criteria to identify the best set of nodes with which a given node should establish links. The topology sensing methodology avoids duplexer problems and attempts to achieve minimum collision by allowing the nodes to continually monitor available pilots and transmit on the least-interference channels.

Abstract: Hybrid fiber/coax networks employ the existing cable plant used for cable TV and transmit data signals in a frequency bandwidth above that which is used for cable TV. The present system used point-to-point data links between intelligent network elements located in the feeder/distribution network to provide reliable, secure, bi-directional broadband access. Digital signals are terminated at the intelligent network elements, switched and regenerated for transmission across additional upstream or downstream data links as needed to connect a home to a headend or router. The intelligent network elements can be co-located with or replace the standard network elements. A tree-and-branch network architecture is therefore established in which each intelligent network element is assigned a routing ID employed in the point-to-point transmissions while leaving legacy analog signals unimpeded. In this manner, the data links are made over relatively short runs of coax cable, which can provide greater bandwidth.

Abstract: In a UMTS (universal mobile telecommunications system) based system, a wireless receiver comprises a convolutional decoder, a processor and memory. The convolutional decoder processes a received signal and provides a Yamamoto-Itoh (YI) metric to the processor. The processor (a) retrieves, from a look-up table stored in the memory, a compensation factor as a function of the YI metric value provided by the Viterbi decoder; (b) retrieves, from another look-up table stored in the memory, an initial BER estimate as a function of the YI metric; and (c) modifies the initial BER estimate with the retrieved compensation value to provide a BER estimate.

Abstract: In an ad-hoc mobile network, a geometry-based routing protocol (GRP) is used to route traffic from a source node to a destination node. In the GRP, each node maintains a location list, which comprises location information for a number of nodes of the ad-hoc mobile network. Periodically, each node transmits to its direct neighbors (i.e., those nodes with which it has a point-to-point link) (a) its location, and (b) its location list. Each node that receives a location list from an adjacent node merges the received location list into its own location list such that location information for existing nodes, and/or newly identified nodes, is current.

Abstract: A UNMTS (universal mobile telecommunications system) based system comprises a common control point, a number of base stations, K, and a mobile terminal. During a soft handoff involving the K base stations and the mobile terminal, the common control point receives individual user channel transmit powers from each of the K base stations. In addition, the common control point receives two parameters from the mobile terminal—the identity of that base station involved in the soft handoff that has the strongest received signal at the mobile terminal and, on an average, a value representing how much stronger the received SNR was in comparison to the SNR target maintained by the mobile terminal. The common control point then decides on a downlink reference user channel transmit power for each of the base stations as a function of the individual user channel transmit powers reported by each base station involved in the soft handoff and the information provided from the mobile terminal.

Abstract: In a wireless communications system, a base station employs a bit error rate (BER) based Reverse Outer Loop Power Control (ROLPC) technique. The ROLPC technique uses either instantaneous or weakly filtered values of the BER for comparison with a BER target value for adjusting a target signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The BER target value is varied as a function of a second order statistic (e.g. variance, standard deviation) of the received SNR. In another embodiment, a symbol error count based ROLPC technique uses adaptive SER targets. In particular, a base station uses a 2nd order statistic, e.g., standard deviation (variance), to identify, or act as a signature of, a particular cellular (wireless) communications environment. The base station monitors the standard deviation of the symbol error count of a received signal (transmitted from a mobile station).